By Emmanuella Anokam

The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) says it will review its operating procedures to encourage safety awareness, following Saturday’s tanker explosion in Niger.

Mr Farouk Ahmed, Chief Executive, NMDPRA, said this on Sunday when he visited the site of the petrol tanker explosion.

He said after receiving a preliminary report of the accident, the authority would carry out further investigation, and come up with measures to prevent reoccurrence.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that scores of residents were burnt to death with several others sustaining varying degrees of injuries following the explosion of a petrol-laden tanker at Dikko Junction, Gurara, Niger.

The inspection team included oil stakeholders such as the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD), branch of NUPENG.

Ahmed, represented by Dr Mustapha Lamorde, Executive Director, Health, Safety, Environment and Community, NMDPRA, said the authority would collaborate with relevant stakeholders to enhance public awareness to avoid reoccurrence.

“From what we learnt, there was an accident, and from the accident, there was a spill, and people were scooping fuel. And this led to the incident that caused the loss of many lives yesterday.

“We will work with the stakeholders to review our standard operating procedures; we should have a proper safety arrangement to prevent such accidents.

“We have requisite training within the sector that encourages safety awareness,” he said.

NAN also reports that the NMDPRA team visited the Musa Yar’Adua Memorial Hospital, Sabon-Wuse, Niger, where the explosion victims were taken for medical attention.

Dr Musa Lafaruma, Head, Hospital Services, confirmed that 28 people were brought to the hospital on the day of the explosion, but three of them died leaving only one survivor.

According to him, many of the victims were taken to other hospitals for medical attention by their family members. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Salif Atojoko